THE finest compliment to pay Everton for their astonishing climb up the table is that they no longer haul the element of surprise with them.

... THE finest compliment to pay Everton for their astonishing climb up the table is that they no longer haul the element of surprise with them. It will be unbelievable if the smallest squad in the Premiership remains on the coattails of Arsenal and Chelsea beyond winter and maintains a European position that will draw big talent to big investment and convince the likes of Thomas Gravesen they can find ambition not attrition at Goodison Park. But, for now, Everton have every reason to feel at home in the league's upper tier. And to feel comfortable too. David Moyes's team arrived on the south coast confident of becoming the first team since February to take three points from Portsmouth, played with the confidence of a top-three team and left with their third, deserved one-nil victory in succession. Had their assured display only earned a draw then attention would have diverted onto the absence of a

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